Ohaneze asks Igbo resident in North, West to boycott planned protests

Igbo elders have asked Igbo living in other parts of Nigeria to shun the planned nationwide protest against hardship from August.

A statement by Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro on Tuesday said the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, the Ohaneze Ndigbo, has cautioned against the protests due to historical antecedents where Igbo people have suffered disproportionately in the aftermath of major protests and riots.

Isiguzoro said the Igbo usually bear the brunt of any major protests nationwide where their lives and properties are destroyed across Nigeria.

The elder highlighted several past events, including the 1978 “Ali Must Go” protests, the 1989 anti-SAP riots, the 1993 June 12 protests, the 2012 Occupy Nigeria protests, and the 2020 EndSARS protests, where the Igbo reportedly faced significant losses of lives and property.

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The statement said, “First and foremost, the prevailing security challenges in the Southeast region pose insurmountable obstacles to the safe conduct of protests and riots.

“In recognition of this reality, any nationwide protest scheduled within the Southeast is hereby revoked, with a clear directive that the Igbo will not partake.”

Isiguzoro added that forcing such protests risks exacerbating the existing security dilemmas in the Southeast, creating opportunities for criminal elements and external Igbo detractors to exploit the situation and instigate further chaos.

“Secondly, the fear of Igbo once again being perceived as sacrificial lambs in the forthcoming nationwide protests is a legitimate concern.

“In this regard, Ohaneze Ndigbo calls upon Igbo residents in the 19 northern states and southwestern regions to boycott the looming protests for their safety and security.”